Tattoo picture post!

Time for a post of pain and artistry. Kirsten and I got our tattoos yesterday, and if I learned one thing from the experience, it's this: Getting a tattoo on your rib cage is about as pleasant as being dipped in tequila and vinegar after having your limbs sawed off with a rusty spoon. WOW. Hahaha. I managed to moan out through the tears and wincing, "My cousin Brent would be so proud of me right now!" Haha. I don't know how the man does it. Anyway, here are the pictures (if any of you have tattoos, you'll know that these are only the mildest photos of the experience. I figured I'd save you all the anguish of looking at the painful, swollen, bloody photos)!

Kirsten went first, because she figured she'd chicken out if she saw me in pain.

At one point she thought, "Oh, he must be nearly done the outline" (by far the most painful part of the tattoo). She glanced down and saw that he had only done the feet, and she was pretty much gutted. I took this picture after a bit more progress.

Kirsten's tattoo is done!.... now it's my turn!

Getting tattooed.

My koru tattoo in progress. It's a good thing I wasn't wearing an expensive bra. Chaz, while a great tattoo artist, isn't the tidiest with his ink. Haha.

We're making some progress now! I've had about 10 heart attacks by this point, and I've probably broken about 12 bones in Kirsten's hands.

But in the end, it was worth it! And here is el finished product.

All in all it was a painful, painful experience that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. It was far above any pain I have ever felt in my life, and I suppose I won't know until I decide to have children, but I don't see how childbirth could possibly be any worse than this. Truly. I cracked a couple jokes about that while being tattooed.... after a particularly painful line I shouted, "IT'S A BOY!" Then after the worst of the pain, I muttered through my tears, "For this pain, it had better be TWINS!" Haha. What an experience.

Kirsten was really glad that she went first. :op